Research Shows Access to Medical Cannabis Lowers Prescription Drug Overdose Rate

CALGARY — A Calgary woman says the normal, happy life of her nine-year-old daughter is in jeopardy following a decision to discontinue the girl’s medicinal marijuana treatment.

Sarah Wilkinson says her daughter Mia suffered frequent, severe epileptic seizures throughout the early years of her life.

Wilkinson says the dozens of pills the little girl took on a daily basis did nothing for her condition but since a doctor put her on marijuana taken orally in oil form through a dropper, she hasn’t had a seizure in 18 months.

Recently, Wilkinson requested a renewal of Mia’s medical marijuana licence but the doctor at Alberta Children’s Hospital who had prescribed it in the first place now says he can no longer do so because of hospital policy.

Forget the Funyuns and drop the Doritos. New research out of Arctic Canada suggests that marijuana users, for some yet-to-be-understood reason, are slimmer and less at risk for diabetes than non-users.

A study by Quebec researchers found that among Inuit residents of Nunavik, the province’s northernmost region, use of cannabis was correlated with lower body-mass-index measurements, lower body-fat percentages and less insulin resistance.

Medical cannabis is now legal in 23 states and Washington DC, along with recreational cannabis also being legal in several states. Many patients and families are now relocating to Colorado and Washington State as “marijuana refugees” (http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/marijuana-refugees-looking-new-homes-pot-legal-states-n22781), knowing they can freely and safely access cannabis as medicine in these recreational cannabis states. Nurses may still wonder, how is cannabis “medicine”?

A recent study suggested a causal association between smoking tobacco and developing psychosis or schizophrenia, building on research about the relationship between the use of substances and the risk of psychosis. While cannabis is one of the usual suspects, a potential link with tobacco will have come as a surprise to many.

At some point in our cannabis careers, we’re all posed with the question, “How long is my cannabis good for?” Maybe you’ve found a few nugs tucked in your winter jacket from last year’s ski trip, or when harvesting a medical crop you may need a way to safely store the excess buds until you’re ready to consume the fruits of your labor. Like a fine wine cellar or whiskey barrel, cannabis is best when aged in a cool, dark place, and while there is no steadfast expiration date for cannabis, there are a few key elements to consider when storing cannabis for any extended period.

Health chiefs have issued a warning over deadly fake cannabis being sold and taken in Plymouth and a rise in the number of people being hospitalised.

RISE Recovery and Integration Service has issued a warning to people in Plymouth about an increase in people being harmed by using synthetic cannabis.

Plymouth man Jordan Hawthorne, 21, recebntly told The herald how fake cannabis sold under the name Vertex left him in a coma fighting for his life for five days, and has left him permanently injured.

The drug and alcohol charity has received alerts from Public Health England about the increase in incidents relating to using the highly dangerous substance often referred to as Spice.

 On July 10, 2015 ABcann Medicinals received its full facility approval from Health Canada. Through this approval, ABcann will now be able to flower the plants they currently have growing and put it through the necessary testing prior to sale.

"Full room approval has been provided and dictates that all bloom rooms, growth chambers, vegetation room, clean/general horticulture rooms, processing and drying areas, as well as ABcann's in house laboratory, have been given Health Canada's blessing to commence full production activities," says Tim Humberstone, Senior Person In-Charge at ABcann.

A Calgary woman is making a plea to Alberta Children's Hospital after doctor told her he can nolonger continue to perscribe marijuana due to the hospital policy.